Reticulated sheet metal sign



Oct. 17, 1939. T. J. SIMPSON 2,175,514

RETICULATED SHEET METAL SIGN Filed MaIOh 20, 1939 Z /aQ/vro/v (J S/MP50A4 INVENTOR.

BY A

I I, r. ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 17, 1939 EATENT OFFICE 2,176,614 RET CULATE SHEET ME'rALsIGN Thornton J. Simpson, Chula Vista, cans, assignor of one-half to W. Colston Bartlett,"Claula Vista, Calif.

Application March 20, 1939, Serial No. 262,895

3 Claims.

This invention relates to 'a light "reflecting sign, the lettering of which'is outlined upon reticulated Sheet metal.

Among the objects of the invention are: To provide for the'erection'an'd maintenance of a large, illuminated sign ata relatively low cost; to provide a'very durable sign that will better withstand stormy weather, including the efiects of moisture andheavy winds; and to provide a sign in which the lettering will stand out conspicuously without the visual impression made thereby being minimized by other objects being noticeable near thereto or in the background thereof.

It isalso anobject of the invention to provide a sign reflective materm which will give back to the observer the colors of the lights directed thereagainst.

Other objects, advantages, and features of invention will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates what is at present deemed to be a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a view, somewhat in perspective, showing the sign and its illuminating means installed adjacent to a street and railway intersection to warn traffic approaching the railway in one direction, it being understood that the same sign equipment will be duplicated at the opposite side of the street and railway to warn traflic moving in the opposite direction.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the sign equipment .shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a face View on a greatly enlarged scale, of a fragment of the reticulated sheet metal whereon'is outlined a fragment of the lettering carried by the sign. The observer is presumed to be directing his vision upwardly at an angle of 45 degrees.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Referring in detail to the drawing, a reticulated metal sheet II], which may be manufactured by a Well known cutting and stretching operation, is shown mounted upon and within a panel H which is supported by posts l2 in a conspicuous manner adjacent to the intersection of a railway l3 with street M. A source of light I5 is provided from which light rays [6 are projected upon the sign.

As shown in detail in Fig. 4, the reticulated metal sheet 10, known as metal lath, has the diagonally intersecting strand portions l1 and I8 which, in relation to their breadths as well as to their lengths, are inclined in relation to the plane occupied by the sheet as a Whole, so

as to cause the light rays Hi to strike their'side portions or faces in a more direct manner, that is to say, with an angle of incidence more nearly approaching ninety degrees. Also, the widened metal portions l9 at the intersections of the strands provide inclined, light reflecting surfaces, while the openings 20 allow unreflected light to pass through, so that the observer sees the lettering of the sign in an isolated, apparently unsupported position.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be observed that the face nearest to the observer of the inclined strand section at the upper right-hand side of each of the openings 20, (that is to say, leading upward and leftward from any one intersection 'area IE to the next left-hand intersection area ing strand section at the left side of each opening is directed, not only downwardly, but also toward the observers right. But, as the source of light is located directly in front of the sign, both of these inclined sections are equally illuminated.

The acute angles at the right and left ends of the openings 58 are designated IBD, and the obtuse angles above and below are designated I80.

The lettering 2| of the stop warning which is shown inscribed upon the sign is outlined upon said inclined strand portions, as it is only the part of the sign occupied by them that is available for being used for image forming purposes. The letters may be outlined as unpainted surfaces which are surrounded by an area painted with dark paint. But after the dark paint has been applied, the visibility of letter outlining areas may be enhanced by applying a coat of aluminous paint or other light-colored paint to them.

The reticulated member I!) may be made of aluminum or of stainless steel. The use of aluminum paint upon the face of the lettering will not be necessary when said member is constructed of aluminum.

The particular area of the reticulated sheet metal shown in Fig. 3 may be taken as representing the lower part of the stem of one of the Ts of the subject matter of the sign, the darkened metal areas (1 on each side edge portion of the view being painted or surface treated to render them non-reflective to the light, while the side portions of the stem of the T are defined by the lines of demarcation e between the areas which are reflective and non-reflective of light.

The lighting means l5 may be of any desired conventional character. Separately considered, just how this light may be produced and timed forms no part of the invention. It may be constructed and arranged to be activated only when ,an approaching train nears the intersection, well-known electrical connections with the rails of the track l3 being utilizable for this purpose. It may continuously direct light rays upon the sign. But it is deemed preferable that said lighting means be used to alternately direct differently colored light rays upon the sign.

With this end in View, the housing 25, which is supported by a post 26, is shown having an upper lens 2'! and a lower lens 28, both directed 7 towards the sign, the position of the illuminating means [5 being such that the light rays will encounter the sign at an upward inclination of about forty-five degrees. Amber rays will desirably be afforded by the upper lens 21 and red rays by the lower lens 28, and, by a suitably timed mechanism, (which may be contained within the housing 25) these differently colored light rays will be thrown upon the sign in alternation.

The upper front lamp 29, desirably amber, and lower front lamp 30, desirably red, are serviceable as a means for initially attracting the attention of pedestrians and .autoists to the sign. The preferred cycle of operation of the four lamps, as represented by their reference numerals in Fig. 2, is 30, 28, 29, 21.

While the reticulated sheet of metal l0 shown in the drawing is at present deemed preferable as a placard forming means on which to inscribe the subject matter of the sign, yet an otherwise foraminated sheet of rigid material having intact portions or webs with faces properly inclined in relation to the source of light could be used for the same purpose without departing from the spirit of the claimed invention.

The material of which the sign proper I0 is constructed is of such a character that it gives back to the observer the same color of light as that which is directed thereupon, whether it be red, amber, or some other color.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the subject matter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sign structure, a reticulated metal sheet having portions which are of light reflecting character surrounded by portions non-reflective to light, said reflecting portions being shaped to outline letters, characters, or objects forming the subject matter of the sign, and a source of light to direct light upon said metal sheet to cause said subject matter thereof to become visible, the reticulated metal of the sign having strands, the light reflecting surfaces of which are inclined in relation to the face of the sheet, and the light rays from said source of light being inclined in relation to the face of the sign in order to encounter said light reflecting surfaces in a more right-angled manner.

2. In a sign structure, a reticulated sheet of rigid material, the strands of which are of a flat, strap-like form, said strands having face portions which are similarly. inclined in relation to the face of the sheet as a whole, the subject matter of the sign being outlined upon said inclined faces by rendering some portions of them reflective, and the others non-reflective of light, means to support said sheet in an elevated, substantially vertical position, and light supplying means located downwardly from said sheet to direct rays of light upwardly thereupon to illuminate the aforesaid lettering outlined thereupon.

3. In a sign. structure, a sheet of material of a foraminated character, the intact portions of which form a multiplicity of faces which are inclined in a generally uniform manner in relation to one edge portion of the sheet, the subject matter of the sign being outlined upon said inclined faces by surface conditions, rendering some portions of them reflective and other portions nonreflective to light, means supporting said sheet above the ground level, and means whereby light is directed upwardly from a point adjacent to the ground level upon the subject matter of the sign, the last recited means also emitting light rays in the opposite direction to those falling upon the sign to attract the attention of observers approaching the sign.

THORNTON J. SIMPSON. 

